Atlas of Retinal Imaging in Alzheimer's (ARIAS) (Closed)

This study is now closed.

What is the ARIAS study?

This 5-year study seeks to enroll 330 men and women at three sites qualifying as either healthy volunteers, mild cognitive impairment, or mild Alzheimer’s disease (AD). All retinal imaging will be completed on an FDA-approved clinical OCT imaging system by trained study personnel. Pupillometry and contrast sensitivity vision testing will rely on FDA-approved and commercially available devices and standard clinical procedures.  

What is the purpose of the ARIAS study?  

The goal of the ARIAS study is to understand what changes to the retina can detect AD risk 10-20 years before memory symptoms occur, and to develop a 3-D imaging atlas of AD-related changes in the retina for use by researchers worldwide.  

After providing informed consent, each participant will be evaluated at 4 time-points during the 36-month study period. At each study visit, participants will undergo basic eye exams, medical history, assessment of vital signs, neuropsychological assessment, full retinal imaging scan, and blood sample for measurement of plasma beta-amyloid and tau levels. A blood sample for biobanking and cheek swab for APOE classification is collected only at the baseline visit. Additional clinical and experimental endpoints include measures of gait, sleep quality, social and psychological health, sleep architecture, and pupillometry. 

Participants will be asked to provide consent to allow review of medical records (including clinical reports and image files for CT/MRI and amyloid PET neuroimaging) and CSF biomarker evidence of AD, if available. A subset of participants, in each group, will be asked to take an over-the-counter herbal supplement (Longvida curcumin; Verdure Sciences, Inc., www.longvida.com) for two days prior to their baseline exams.  

Eligibility 

Men and women aged 55-80 without memory complaints, with memory complaints and those with a confirmed diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild AD. Interested individuals can learn more about their eligibility by contacting the Memory and Aging Program Outreach Team at 401-455-6402 or by sending an email to memory@butler.org.